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Theology Courses
St Anthony of Padua
We welcome those who feel they have a vocation to the priesthood in the Ecumenical Catholic Mission to contact us. No age upper limit is imposed but you must be at least 18 years before you start training with us Education is important and a minimum of 5 or so Ordinary O level or Irish Leaving Certificates is usual but we will consider those with other qualities as personality is as important as education. The first Apostles were not degree holders but they seem to have made a good job of spreading the Good News. The norm is outlined below but each candidates is judged on their overall merits.
If you are Called as a Seminarian or already a Priest wanted to join E C C C please download our Enquiry Form in the format of your choice and send same by attachment to VocationOne@aol.com :
We are pleased to offer a variety of Theology Degree and Divinity Courses by Distance Learning Format. These are University Validated . Our most popular is the Trinity International STB which is a Bachelor of Sacred Theology which is primarily a good all round vocational degree equivalent to a Bachelors in Theology at Ordinary level. It can be followed by those who wish a good all round degree as it was initially intended for the ordained ministry. However due to its tailored structure of modules ,prescribed readings, assessment method it has grown in popularity to have a wide cross section of all denominations enrolled on this course. It comes with 5 texts books and the Course itself. It is very cost effective for a good all round comprehensive degree course. Provisions to update to a BA Honours is in place but further secular courses in another discipline i.e. religious studies must be completed. Full transfer credits are allowed provided they are well documented. A Masters and Doctorate by study .thesis and dissertation is also available. Candidates who have already a Degree in Theology Divinity or Religious Studies and who wishes to be considered for Ordination will need only to complete selected modules for their STB/ B.Theo .
Introduction to Theology and Religion,
Comparative Religion
Selected New Testament Texts in English: Gospels
Selected New Testament Texts in English: Epistles
Liturgy
The Sacraments
The Theology of Grace
Ecclesiology
Ecumenism
Christian Ethics
Canon Law
Dogmatic Theology
Sociology of Religion
Patristic Studies
Pastoral Counselling
Preaching
Homiletics
Roman Catholic Studies
History of Old Catholic Movement
History of the Catholic Church
Ethics Moral Theology, Eschatology,
Mary & the Saints
The Theology Degrees are University Validated and Accredited. We do not have a final Exam as we prefer that students work at their own pace and provide the necessary essays. Course work and directed reading are the norm and each chosen module must be completed before moving to a second .
Training for the Priesthood
The Theological Education which candidates for the priesthood usually undertake and complete is a 120 credits course which is a vocational degree and is primarily intended to cover the overall gaps in the candidate's career. The candidate himself will be well motivated to enable them to undertake a mission in their own locality, they will need to have a regular income as no salaries are paid and they need to be people with vision for their apostolate together with a compassion for those in our society. Roman Catholic Priests would not be re-ordained but would be Incardinated into the Ecumenical Catholic Mission . You will need to have a sense of humour and be able to demonstrate that you can cope with any situation, you will be expected to show sympathy, understanding and concern for all people and a priestly and prayerful response to those who turn to you for help. You will also be expected to understand the sacraments and the spiritual response that these sacraments generate, and you must feel called to the ordained ministry.
We Welcome back former Roman Catholic priests who have left their ministry to get married or other valid reason to return to the Catholic ministry from the UK, Ireland and World -Wide. Candidates both ordained and lay are asked to familiarise themselves with the Catholic Church tradition, there are many wonderful educational sites which tell in full the history of the various communities which make up the Catholic Church. Within this Church, are the Orthodox and Roman Catholic & Old Roman Catholic traditions as well as Old Catholic and Independent Catholic.
They would not required to leave their homes, ministries are self supporting, and a day job may be necessary. No age limit is imposed, but applicants must be fit and healthy with good motivations and a strong will to succeed in their mission. In most cases the Bishop allows the freedom to celebrate the Mass in what ever Rite or language that both they and their Congregations feel happy with. At the moment our main concern is to foster and encourage devotions in the UK and Ireland. It is here that we wish to make a strong regional presence with Head Quarters that is accessible for most candidates. In our mission and vision, we know that it will not always be easy for Priests to return to ministry and that is the reason that we propose to have a Retreat House.
For information regarding St Anthony's Seminary and Degree Courses Contact Dr Donald Campbell at